Day Nineteen: No longer a Hollow Day

The needles of the Christmas tree are beginning to cover the floor.

The ornaments are ready to fall off of the now weakened branches.

The outside garland and bows are beginning to droop

The shelves at the store are emptying as they make room for valentines day.

The Hallmark Christmas specials are being replaced with football games

because

they are...

Getting tired of Christmas.

Are you getting tired of Christmas as we are only days before the big day?

The pressure rising to get everything done

because

what if you don’t get everything done...

then what?

What if you didn’t buy the present?

What if you didn’t get the cookies baked?

What if you didn’t feel like falalalalal-ing this week…

because

you are tired of Christmas?

I am tired of Christmas.

I am tired of hearing the words

“I have so much to get done”

“What can I get for him or her”

“I only have 6 days left to shop”

All turning Christmas into a “Hollow” Day.

A day without

The Baby.

This morning I feel "hollow" and am

thinking what is wrong with me

because I am not “feeling” like it is Christmas…

Because I am

trying to conjure up the feelings of Christmas…

the excitement as a child waiting to see what Santa was going to bring.

That childlike Christmas spirit..

of great anticipation and great expectation ..

leading to joy

as soon as I see the gifts.

But as an adult, I no longer wait for Santa to come...

So does that mean I no longer have great anticipation and great expectation?

It all depends on where I am putting my hope.

My hope in what is not seen….

not in what present I am going to buy or receive

Or whether I get everything done…for a day…

My hope is not in a day.

My joy returns this morning as I sweep up the needles on my floor…

and look up at the star that leads me to the sleeping Baby in the manger…

Who is my Hope.

The One Who takes the “Hollow” out of my day, a moment and

this Christmas season.

I may be tired of Christmas….

But that doesn’t mean I am tired of Christ.

The Baby is who I am focused on.

The Baby who has transformed this heart of mine into the heart of a child…

A child filled with great anticipation and expectation to all the Baby has for me..

He is the Gift I open

today, tomorrow and the day after that.

The Baby Who takes the hollow out of my every day.

My joy has returned as my heart is filled with

The Baby who is my

Hope,

Because He is the only Gift of Christmas.

Are you tired of Christmas?

Is it a just a Hollow Day?

"What is Christmas? If there never was a Savior wrapped in a manger. What is Christmas without Christ?"

The Chorus from this beautiful song,

"This is Christmas"

Enjoy!